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Pujols, Hamilton, Trout highlight Angels on ASG ballot

4/20/13: Mike Trout crushes a grand slam in the bottom of the first, the first of his career, to pad the Angels' early lead

By Alden Gonzalez
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Angels have three superstars in their everyday lineup. If fans vote enough, the trio will make up the heart of the American League batting order, too.

Ballots for this year's All-Star Game at Citi Field were unveiled on Wednesday, giving Angels fans a chance to select Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout as starters, with designated hitter Mark Trumbo (.316 batting average) and center fielder Peter Bourjos (.317) also staking their claims early on.

Hamilton has started off the season glacially slow, but he notched four hits on Monday to up his batting average to .221 from .176. Pujols has been slowed by plantar fasciitis, but he still holds a .264/.386/.417 slash line. And since going 10-for-44 in the first 10 games of his much-hyped sophomore campaign, Trout is batting .342.

"I was jumping a little bit at the ball, just anxious," Trout said of his slow start. "Now it's just back to myself, being myself."

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Fans may submit twenty-five (25) online ballots during the voting period, but can also earn a one-time bonus of ten (10) additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll, where they'll have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 15.

The 2013 AL and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 7, on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.

The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 84th All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 16, with MLB.com providing extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

It'll be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

In-stadium balloting at Angel Stadium will run from May 2 through June 17.

Catcher Chris Iannetta, second baseman Howie Kendrick, third baseman Alberto Callaspo and shortstop Erick Aybar are also on the ballot. Pujols has made nine trips to the All-Star Game, but he has also missed out the last two years. Hamilton, meanwhile, has started each of the last five games for the AL.

Trout and Trumbo, who also put on a show in the Home Run Derby, made it last year; Kendrick was selected in 2011.